PhD - Subject Area Changes Policy and Procedures

Academic units at the University who wish to add, amend or delete the subject areas available for PhD enrolment.

This document outlines the policy and procedures to be followed by an Academic Unit in order to amend the list of PhD subject areas available for PhD enrolment.

1. Applications to add, rename or delete a subject area must be made to the Board of Graduate Studies, through the appropriate faculty/LSRI committee(s).

2. Additions, renamings and delegations (phased or otherwise) are subject to Council's approval on the recommendation of the Board of Graduate Studies and Senate.

Adding a PhD subject area

3.     Prior to submitting an application, the proposers must publicise their intent within the University, and invite expressions of interest from academic units and potential supervisors who are interested in the proposed subject area. The e-newsletters produced by the School of Graduate Studies may be used to publicise the proposal.

4.    Applications to include a new PhD subject area must include the following information:

• a justification statement that includes details on how the proposal was publicised and a rationale for the name of the proposed subject, including a statement about international benchmarking and naming conventions
• information on at least 3 staff members who are considered qualified to act as main/joint main supervisors for candidates in the proposed PhD subject: their qualifications, previous postgraduate research supervisory experience, and evidence of their research activity in the proposed subject area
• confirmation of the academic unit with primary responsibility for the administrative requirements and the provision of resources for PhD research in the proposed subject area
• a statement of the resources that are available for the support of research in the particular area and an assurance that they will meet the minimum international requirements for the support of research in the subject area
• confirmation that the PhD candidates will be provided with the level of resources and support detailed in the document  Doctoral Candidates - Resources and Support Guidelines
• a statement of support from those heads of academic units whose staff and other resources are included in the statement of support and supervision available to PhD candidates in the proposed new subject area
• evidence that appropriate staff members are available to assess candidates’ thesis research proposals and academic progress
• confirmation that the relevant faculty/LSRI committees, including postgraduate and faculty/institute committees, support the proposal
• an indication of expected enrolments in the subject over the next 5 years
• confirmation, after discussion with SGS, of the TEC funding band for the proposed subject, and the proposed PReSS funding band

5. Where the introduction of a new PhD subject area is approved, a review of enrolments will be undertaken after 5 years to ensure the ongoing viability of the subject.

Renaming a PhD subject area 

6.     Applications to rename an existing subject area must include the following information:

• the rationale for the name change, including a statement about international benchmarking and naming conventions, and an overview of the consultation process around the proposed renaming
• confirmation that there are at least 3 staff members who are considered qualified to act as main/joint main supervisors for candidates in the renamed PhD subject
• confirmation of the TEC funding band for the proposed renamed subject, and the proposed PReSS funding band
• a table showing the students currently enrolled in the existing subject area, their main/joint main supervisor and expected submission date
• a statement detailing how any candidates currently enrolled in the existing named subject area will be managed by the academic unit, including details of any phased deletion plan for the existing named subject area

Deleting a PhD subject area

7.    Applications to delete an existing subject area in the list must include the following information:

• the reason/s for the subject area being deleted
• a statement detailing how any candidates currently enrolled in the existing named subject area will be managed by the academic unit

Review of Subject Areas

8. Every three years the Board of Graduate Studies will review enrolments in each subject area and consider whether the subject area should continue to be offered, renamed or deleted.

9. No subject will be deleted by Council without consultation with the Faculty Dean/LSRI Director and the head of the academic unit(s) associated with the subject.

The following definitions apply to this document:

Academic Units are those units with which the PhD subject area is associated and may be managed by either a faculty or LSRI. Academic units include faculties, schools, departments and institutes

Staff member refers to an individual employed by the University on a full or part time basis

University means the University of Auckland and includes all subsidiaries

Include the following:

• PhD Statute
• PhD Subject Area Policy
• Doctoral Candidates - Resources and Support Guidelines

Content manager: School of Graduate Studies
Owner: Dean of Graduate Studies
Approved by: Board of Graduate Studies, Senate and Council
Date approved: June 2021
Review date: June 2026